STAMFORD -- Greenwich native Cam Atkinson displayed his dynamic scoring ability for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL last season, before showing flashes of brilliance during his 27-game stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.

Now Atkinson is aiming to showcase his skills during a full NHL season.

"I go to mini camp soon, so I hope to have a great camp and make the team right out of camp," said Atkinson, who was drafted by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. "I'm going to try to get there in the best shape I possibly can and hopefully, I'll start the season with the Blue Jackets and take it from there."

Atkinson, who helped power Boston College to the NCAA championship in 2010, scoring two goals in the title game, was one of 29 players from the NHL, AHL and collegiate level that participated in The Big Assist IV at Terry Conners Rink Wednesday night.

"Ryan Shannon puts on a great event for a terrific cause and I'm always happy to participate," said Atkinson, who excited the hundreds of spectators with his impressive play throughout. "This is my fourth year coming here and I always look forward to it."

One of the most popular players on the Springfield Falcons (the team gave out posters of him to the home crowd at one game), Atkinson was called up to the Blue Jackets the final two months of the NHL season and made an impact.

Known for his outstanding speed and potent shot, the 5-foot-8 right wing registered seven goals and seven assists in 27 games for the Blue Jackets. Talk about ending the season in style.

Five of Atkinson's goals came during the team's last two games of the season as he recorded a hat trick against Colorado and tallied twice against the Islanders.

"It was real important for me to finish the season like that and show that I can play at that level and produce points," said Atkinson, an Avon Old Farms School graduate and Riverside resident. "Hopefully, I gained momentum going into next season."

Atkinson, who led the nation in goals (30) while at Boston College during the 2009-10 season, posted 29 goals and 15 assists for the Falcons before joining the Blue Jackets.

"Playing for Springfield was a great experience," Atkinson said. "I was up and down for most of the year and I learned so much. When I was down in the AHL a good portion of the year, it really helped develop my game for the NHL the last two months of the season."

His first NHL goal came during his first stint with the Blue Jackets on Oct. 10, 2011, against the Vancouver Canucks.

"That first NHL goal was a dream come true," said Atkinson, whose first appearance with the Blue Jackets last season lasted four games. "Every hockey player dreams of playing in the NHL. That first goal I'll remember the rest of my life."

The 23-year-old took the ice especially confident during his two-month stretch with the Blue Jackets in the spring.

"When I first made it out of camp last year it was so surreal," he said. "I needed to work on my defensive game, so they sent me down after a few games to improve. But when I got called up the last two months of the season I really felt like I belonged out there."

Atkinson has high hopes for the Blue Jackets -- a young, up-and-coming team -- for the 2012-13 season.

"We are going to be on the rise during the coming years," Atkinson said. "We have a great organization with very talented players. Hopefully, I can become an impact player in the NHL."

Brunswick School graduate Hugh Jessiman also lent his support to the cause Wednesday. The Darien native, who was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round (12th pick overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, served as one of the White team's coach's due to a stress fracture in his foot that he's nursing.

"It's a good way to give back to the community," said Jessiman, who starred at Dartmouth College for three years before joining the Rangers' organization. "There's a lot of good energy here tonight."

Jessiman, who has spent most of his career playing for several AHL teams, recently signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators organization.

"It seems like a good opportunity for me," Jessiman said. "It's a young, exciting team, so I just have to make sure I'm prepared to go to camp. My foot will be better by the time the season starts."

The hulking, 6-6 right wing credits his days at Brunswick for providing him a strong foundation.

"Brunswick not only helped me develop as a hockey player, the school shaped me as a person," said Jessiman, who said he relished the rivalry the team shared with Greenwich High School. "My time at Brunswick was one of the best experiences of my life."